ALTAI EAGLE FESTIVAL WITH EXTENTION OF ALTAI TAVAN BOGD TRIP
12 SEP – 24 SEP
Tour Code: CU09 Length: 13 days/12 nights
Tour Scope: Western Mongolia Tour Route: UB-Olgii-Sagsai soum-Altai Tavan Bogd-Olgii-UB
Altai Eagle Festival. This small eagle festival features about 60 eagle hunters and their eagles. They show off their skills in several events starting with chasing a fox skin and calling their eagle from a distance
Tour Season: Altai Eagle Festival takes place in late September Tour Level: Moderate
12-Sep-Wed: Day 1. Ulaanbaatar
13-Sep-Thu: Day 2. Flight to Olgii and drive to Sagsai area
14-Sep-Fri: Day 3. Kazakh Family
15-Sep-Sat: Day 4. Altai Eagle Festival
16-Sep-Sun: Day 5. Altai Eagle Festival
17-Sep-Mon: Day 6. Travel to Altai Tavan Bogd
18-Sep-Tue: Day 7. Trekking Day
19-Sep-Wed: Day 8. Khar Salaa Valley and Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain
20-Sep: Thu: Day 9. Drive to Khurgan and Khoton Lakes
21-Sep-Tue: Day 7. Trekking Day
22-Sep-Sat: Day 11. Olgii town
23-Sep-Sun: Day 12. Flight to Ulaanbaatar
24-Sep-Mon: Day 13. Departure
Meals: Inclusive meals are indicated in itinerary (B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner) Staffs: Visit Mongolia Team (Tour guide and driver)
DAY 1 12-SEP-WED. ULAANBAATAR
Upon arrival at the Chinggis Khan International Airport in Mongolia, you will meet Visit Mongolia crew and transfer to the hotel, conveniently located in downtown Ulaanbaatar. After freshening up from your flight, we start our first day around Ulaanbaatar at Gandan Monastery, the largest and most important monastery of Mongolia with 500 monks. From here we will go to the National History Museum which tells the rich history of Mongolia. The heart of Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar Square, is just a short walk away. Here we will see the Parliament House, National Opera and City Hall. Afterwards, we will visit Zaisan Hill, which offers great views of the city. In the evening, you will attend a performance of traditional dancing and khoomii (Mongolian throat singing). Overnight in hotel. (L,D)
DAY 2 13-SEP-THU. OLGII CITY/SAGSAI AREA
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Olgii, center of Bayan-Olgii province, the only muslim province in Mongolia. About 90% of its population are kazakhs. The flight takes 3 hours. Our local team will meet you at the Olgii airport. We drive to the Sagsai soum for 40 km, Sagsai area, home of Kazakh nomads.
Accommodation: Eagle hunter’s family
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 3 14-SEP-FRI. KAZAKH FAMILY
We will spend the day travelling throughout the surrounding area visiting nomadic Kazakh families to experience their lifestyle, the Kazakh ger with its spacious yet cozy interior and many colorful handmade rugs.
Accommodation: Eagle hunter’s family
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 4 15-SEP-SAT. ALTAI EAGLE FESTIVAL-1ST DAY
The first day of the festival features the fascinating history and techniques of traditional Kazakh eagle-hunting. We will enjoy the opening ceremony, the parade of all participants, eagle-call competition (tests hunters’ ability to call eagle to their horse from a distance), fox-skin, archery, Tiyn Teru (a race to pick a coin off the ground from horseback), Kyz Kuar (“woman chase,” a man and woman racing with the woman whipping the man), and the highlight, Kokpar (tug-of-war while on horseback).
Accommodation: Eagle hunter’s family
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 5 16-SEP-SUN. ALTAI EAGLE FESTIVAL-2ND DAY
The second day of the Altai Eagle Festival has events showcasing the diversity of local traditions including a camel race of 6 km. The Festival concludes with an exotic Kazakh traditional dress event, followed by the Closing, Awards Ceremony and group dinner with traditional Kazakh folk performances.
Accommodation: Eagle hunter’s family
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 6 17-SEP-MON. TRAVEL TO ALTAI TAVAN BOGD
This morning we will continue our travel to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park for 200 kms about 6-7 hours, in the pristine wilderness of western Mongolia. On our way we will enjoy ancient deer stones and burial sites. Upon arrival in the area we will pitch our camp nearby Tsagaan River which originates from an ice glacier of the majestic Altai Mounts. (approximate altitude 2,600m above sea level).
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 7 18 SEP-TUE-WED. TREKKING DAY
In the morning after a hearty breakfast we start trek to the holy mountain Altai Tavan Bogd. We will reach the hill. Enjoy an extraordinary view of the mountains and glacier. (approximate altitude 3,100m above sea level) about 8km trekking.
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 8 19-SEP-THU. TRAVEL TO KHAR SALAA
Drive to Khar Salaa valley of Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain for 20 km. Today we will explore hundreds of petroglyphs which express deeply the history and culture of nomads dating back 3000 years. Also we will enjoy beautiful small lakes, home to many water birds and deer stones, the remains of ancient civilization. Stay overnight in tent near to Tuvan nomad family. (approximate altitude 2,530m above sea level).
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 9 20-SEP-FRI. DRIVE TO KHURGAN AND KHOTON LAKES
Drive to picturesque alpine lakes of Khurgan and Khoton for 160km. Travel to Hoton Lake and camp by the lake. Thes two lakes are connected by a stream and fed by rivers and streams originated in Altai Mountains. The surrounding countryside has captivating scenery with snow-peaked mountains and glaciers and white water rivers flowing down the mountains into the lakes. Green meadows littered with wild flowers and forested hills surround the lakes. Both of these amazing lakes offer wonderful opportunities for fishing and hiking around the area. Visit with a Kazakh family and learn more about their unique lifestyle. (approximate altitude 2,100m above sea level).
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 10 21-SEP-SAT. TREKKING DAY
In the morning after a hearty breakfast we start trekking around Khoton Lake. We will have the chance to see rock arts and some Turkic sites. (approximate altitude 2,000m above sea level).
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 11 22-SEP-SAT. DRIVE BACK TO OLGII
After lunch we will head back to Olgii for 100 km. In the evening we return to the capital of Bayan-Olgii.
Accommodation: Local hotel in Olgii
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 12 23-SEP-SUN. FLIGHT TO ULAANBAATAR
Flight to Ulaanbaatar from Olgii. The flight takes 3 hours. Transfer to the hotel upon arrival in UB. Shopping for souvenirs and cashmere is optional. Farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Meals: B, L, D
DAY 13 24-SEP-MON. DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport for return flight. (B)
Visit Mongolia’s policy is to provide top quality service to our customers at reasonable prices. We will pleased to provide detailed price quotes for those interested in specific tours.
In Ulaanbaatar:
Hotels are available in different ranges of quality and service. The package cost includes all services except accommodations in Ulaanbaatar (UB). We do give “choices” for our clients to pick their appropriate accommodations in Ulaanbaatar. However we encourage group travelers to pick the same property. We will provide hotel rates for Visit Mongolia customers for your selection. Please select hotel and room type and let us know.
In the Countryside:
– Ger Camps
While touring in the countryside, the most common accommodations outside cities on our tours are called ger camps. A ger is the traditional felt tent of nomadic herders. Accommodation in the ger camps is based on two people sharing one ger. Each ger is heated by a wood stove and has two wood-framed beds.
The camp restaurant and western-style toilet/shower facilities are located in the middle of the camp or close by. All camps supply towels. The ger camps provide all bedding and clients will not be expected to bring their own sleeping bags if they stay overnight in the ger camps. Staying in a ger is a memorable experience of Mongolian culture.
– Tented camping
We use tented camps on our adventure journeys to more remote areas. The tents are either 2 or 3 person tents. A sleeping mat will be provided to each person staying in a tent but clients are asked to bring their own sleeping bags. Our expedition staff sets up camps and prepares meals and takes care of all your needs. Tented camps allow you to interact more with the nature and visit the remotest areas of the country.
We use different types of vehicles depending on the nature of tours, destination and final number of travellers.
– For jeep overland adventure tours we use Japanese 4WD vans and SUV’s (Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan), which is the best available for its type
– A bus or mini-bus serves group tourists within Ulaanbaatar
– In some remote areas where we have to fly, we arrange local vehicles most of which are Russian 4WD jeeps or minivans. Daily driving distance will be appr. 200-250km.
– For sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar we use deluxe coaches, vans and sedans.
All Visit Mongolia drivers have many years of experience. They know their way around the Mongolian countryside including many places where they are no marked roads. They are all skilled mechanics which is crucial in remote places. Technical inspections on the vehicles are made regularly.
An English speaking Mongolian guide will accompany the entire time of your trip. The most of our guides have a wonderful and outstanding reputation among our clients. They have an in depth knowledge of Mongolian history, nomadic civilization, customs, traditions, and nature memories. After every tour we get feedbacks and emails about our guides.
Meals are included in the cost. Visit Mongolia provides the selection of the best available local restaurants on cities and popular destinations.
When you are in Ulaanbaatar, you can eat out in number of restaurants as serving Indian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, English, French, German, Russian, Latin American and of course Mongolian cuisines. FYI, basic foodstuffs for Mongolians are beef, mutton and noodles.
When you stay in tourist Ger camps, the most camps provide meals as western cuisine. During excursions to remote areas we provide services of professional chefs who normally accompany the group. Arrangements can be made for vegetarians and those with special dietary needs with advance notice.
Mongolia’s climate is continental and extreme. With more than two hundred days of full sun per year it has been given the nickname of ‘the’ Country of Blue Skies’.
The tourist season in Mongolia is between the months of May and September. The weather during this time varies considerably from region to region. The highest rainfall period is in July and August, however, there are still days of glorious sunshine during this time. The Gobi usually has the hottest temperatures. Summer evenings in the Gobi can be cool because of Mongolia’s high altitude. The best time to visit the Gobi is June and September. The spring is a time of strong winds, especially difficult in the sandy areas of the Gobi.
Most travelers come to Mongolia in mid-July for the annual National Naadam Festival.